Single-service delivery packages

ABSTRACT

A plurality of stacked articles maintained from separation one from another by means within the article stack and heat shrunk film encompassing a portion of the external surfaces of the article stack.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSClifford G. Morse;

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ABSTRACT: A plurality of stacked articles maintained from separation onefrom another by means within the article stack and heat shrunk filmencompassing a portion of the external surfaces of the article stack.

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SINGLE-SERVICE DELIVERY PACKAGES This invention relates to asingleservice delivery package. In another aspect, this invention relates to adelivery package having open end portions and comprising a plurality ofindividual articles each having recessed tops.

In heretofore packaging of a plurality of articles having recessed tops,such as milk cartons, metal objects, and the like, the prestackedarticles were either completely wrapped with material covering allsurfaces of the stack or enclosed in a large sealed box. Covering allsides of the stacked articles in order to prevent loss of articlestherefrom, utilized a great deal of material, equipment, and power.Later, plastic quick-sealable films were utilized to decrease the timeand equipment needed to satisfactorily seal the ends of the wrappingmaterial. In these heretofore used'plastic sealed packages, a great dealof material was utilized to form the sealed ends.'The' packagingmaterial was also often damaged during wrapping operations. i

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide animproved singleservice delivery package. Another object of this invention is to providea package, of the above-described type, having open end portionscomprising a plurality of individual articles each having recessed tops.Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a package of theabove-described type having means internal of the article stack formaintaining the plurality of articles in a stacked relationship. Otheraspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and thedrawing.

The drawing consists of seven figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the package of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tray means used in the package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the tray means of FIG. 2.

F IG. 4 is an enlarged view partially in cross section of a portion ofthe article and the tray means attached to the articles of the packageof FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the package of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tray means used in the package of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the tray means of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of articles 2 are arranged in rowsadjacent one another to form a first article layer 4. A tray 6 ispositioned above the first article layer 4 and rests upon said firstlayer. A second article layer 8 is positioned on the tray 6 above thefirst article layer 4. A tray 6 is positioned above the second articlelayer 8 and rests upon said second layer. A third article layer 10 ispositioned on the tray 6 above the first and second article layers 4, 8and their associated tray means 6. A heat shrunk tubular plastic film 12covers the bottom and first side (not shown) of the article stack andassociated tray means and the top 14 and second side 16. The first end18 and the second end (not shown) of the article stack are onlypartially covered with the film 12, thereby forming a compact packageconstruction with the film overlapping opposed ends of said stack withportions of said package being open. Portions of the open ends of thetubular member are spaced from the ends of the layered article stack,

thereby providing a space between the tubular member and the articlestack for receiving the fingers of a person while said person iscarrying the composite package of this invention. The heat shrunk filmutilized in the package of this invention can be polyvinyl chloride,polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like.

It should be understood that the number of stacked articles of FIG. 1are for example purposes only. The package of this invention cancomprise layers containing more or less rows than the six rows and moreor less articles per row than the four articles per row shown forexample purposes in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a tray 6 utilized with the package shown in FIG. I. Thetray 6 is rectangular in shape having a length and width substantiallythe same as the length and width of the article layer upon which itrests. The tray means 6 has at least one holding means or flap 20 onopposed ends of the tray. The flap is preferably rectangular in shapebut may be of other shapes (to be niore'fully described later). Thenumber of flap means 20 formed on the ends of the tray 6 is dependentupon the number of articles per row upon which the tray is resting. Thepackage of this invention requires a tray 6 having a holding means orflap 20 in contact with articles forming portions of the outsidesurfaces of the package that are not in contact with .the film. Theflap20 is preferably carved from its respective tray means 6 in order tohingedly connect one edge of said flap 20 to said tray and to conservematerials, labor, and machinery required to manufacture said flap. Theflap may, however, be hingedly connected to the surface of the traymeans 6 by stapling, bonding, riveting, or other like means. The flapmeans of FIG. 2 is hinged at a side of the flap adjacent its respectivetray end. Referring to FIG. 3, which shows a front view ofv the tray ofFIG. 2, flap 20 has a hinged edged 22 adjacent a respective first andsecond tray end corresponding to the firstandsecond end'of the stack.The flap 20 extends downwardly froma lower surface 24 of the tray 6 atan angle in the range of 30 to relative to said lower surface. i

' FIG. 4 shows the tray 6 of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 resting on top of thearticles which-form a first or second layer, for example, of thepackage'shown in FIG. 1. The article 2 has a body 26 and a recessed top28. The tray 6 in place on the article 2 has a fiap 20 extending intothe recessed portion of the top of the article and in contact with aportion of the article body the adjacent surface of which is contactingan adjacent article positioned in the same layer. The particular articlecontacting the flap means 20, here generally indicated by the numeral2', is being urged by said flap means toward the adjacent article 2'.Where articles forming the article package have recessed tops that arerecessed in a wedge shape, rounded shape, or other form, the flap 20 ofthis invention can be similarly shaped in order to forcibly engage thearticle. In this construction, although the ends of the package of thisinvention are not covered with film, the flaps of the trays engage thearticles and prevent said articles from moving through the film opening.Since the flap means are positioned internal of the stacked articles,the outer surfaces of the article stack are substantially the samedimensions as the wrapped package and the retaining flap means are notexposed to damage or destruction with resultant failure of said package.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the package of this invention.Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of rows and layers of separate articleshaving recessed tops are arranged with trays between adjacent layers aspreviously described. In this embodiment a top and bottom cover sheet 34and 36 are placed in contact with the bottom and top of the articlestack. The length and width of the top and bottom cover sheets 34, 36and associated trays are substantially equal to the dimensions of thearticle stack. These cover sheets can be constructed of cardboard,plastic, or other like relatively inflexible materials.

At least one heat shrunk tubular film encompasses and compacts thearticle stack and associated cover sheets and trays with said tubularfilm covering a portion of the surfaces of the layered article stack incontact with said tubular film. For greater stability of the package,more than one tubular film can be utilized, as shown for example in FIG.5.

Owing to the fact that a large number of separate individual articlesare not covered by film in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 of the packageof this invention, a great number of flaps 20 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7are associated with each tray means 6. Flap means of this invention arein contact with at least two sides of the recessed top of eachperipherally positioned article with each individual flap urging itsrespective article toward an adjacent article of the same layer. Withsome geometric configuration of rows, it is necessary to form a doubleflap 21 in order that flap means are in contact with at least two sidesof each recessed top of each peripherally positioned article asdescribed above. In other aspects, such as relative dimensions,construction, material, and the like, the tray means 6 shown in FIGS. 6and 7 are as previously described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. inthis embodiment, the flap means are also positioned internally of thestacked articles, the outer surfaces of the stacked article issubstantially the same dimensions as the wrapped package and theretaining flap means are not exposed to damage or destruction withresultant failure of said package. Further modifications and alterationsof this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe foregoing discussion and accompanying drawing, and it should beunderstood that this'invention is not to be unduly limited thereto. A

What is claimed is:

1. An article package having portions of said package open,

comprising:

a plurality of articles each having a body with a recessed portion, oneportion of said plurality of articles being arranged in at least threerows adjacent one another to form a first article layer, other portionsof said plurality of articles being positioned above said first layerforming at least three subsequent article layers thereby forming alayered article stack;

a tray means having a plurality of substantially rectangular flaps witheach flap having an edge hingedly connected to said tray means, one ofsaid tray means and associated flaps being positioned between eachadjacent article layers of the article stack with each article on theouter periphery of the article stack not in contact with a hereafterheat shrunk tubular member having only a single flap of the associatedtray extending into contact with the recess of said article with thehinged edge of each flap being adjacent its respective tray end; and

a heat shrunk tubular member disposed around a portion of said layeredarticle stack and associated tray means to compact said article stackand said tray means together to form a package construction.

2. An article package, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubularmember has opposed ends covering only a portion of each opposed end ofsaid layered article stack and tray means.

3. An article package, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the length andwidth of the tray means is substantially the same length and width asthe article layers associated therewith.

4. An article package, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tray has alower surface and the flaps thereof extend from the lower surface of thetray means at an angle in the range between 30 to relative to saidsurface.

5. An article package, as set forth in claim 1, including a cover sheetover the bottom and top of the layered article stack.

1. An article package having portions of said package open, comprising:a plurality of articles each having a body with a recessed portion, oneportion of said plurality of articles being arranged in at least threerows adjacent one another to form a first article layer, other portionsof said plurality of articles being positioned above said first layerforming at least three subsequent article layers thereby forming alayered article stack; a tray means having a plurality of substantiallyrectangular flaps with each flap having an edge hingedly connected tosaid tray means, one of said tray means and associated flaps beingpositioned between each adjacent article layers of the article stackwith each article on the outer periphery of the article stack not incontact with a hereafter heat shrunk tubular member having only a singleflap of the associated tray extending into contact with the recess ofsaid article with the hinged edge of each flap being adjacent itsrespective tray end; and a heat shrunk tubular member disposed around aportion of said layered article stack and associated tray means tocompact said article stack and said tray means together to form apackage construction.
 2. An article package, as set forth in claim 1,wherein said tubular member has opposed ends covering only a portion ofeach opposed end of said layered article stack and tray means.
 3. Anarticle package, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the length and widthof the tray means is substantially the same length and width as thearticle layers associated therewith.
 4. An article package, as set forthin claim 1, wherein the tray has a lower surface and the flaps thereofextend from the lower surface of the tray means at an angle in the rangebetween 30* to 90* relative to said surface.
 5. An article package, asset forth in claim 1, including a cover sheet over the bottom and top ofthe layered article stack.